Banks’ eyes fluttered open and a smile tipped one corner of his mouth almost immediately.
“Hey,” he said, his voice still full of sleep.
“Hey,” she said. He moved his hand to cover hers on her belly, then slid it off to feel Jellybean bump him a time or two.
“That feels good. I missed it.”
She chuckled, drawing a finger over the stubble on his jaw.
“I missed this.”
He nodded, craning his neck to kiss her forehead.
“Me too.”
“We’ve got to get up and get moving or Nan will be calling asking where we are.”
“You wanna come help feed the horses?”
“Do you even have to ask?” she said, laughing, and turned to climb out of the bed.
Behind her, he growled and tugged her back toward him with an arm around her hips. She landed back in the bed with her back pressed against his front, his arm looped over her waist, his warm breath tickling behind her ear as he nuzzled his stubbly chin in against the crook of her neck. It tickled, and she squirmed against him until it almost felt indecent.
“The horses can wait. Nan can wait. Just give me ten minutes,” he said, punctuating his words with little nips along her neck. A shiver ran through her. He could have ten minutes, a year, her whole damn life if he wanted.
*
“That was for sure more than ten minutes,” Norah teased as she climbed into Banks’ truck with his help. He grinned at her in the morning light, reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and then leaned in to press a kiss to her lips.
“I do what I can,” he said with a chuckle, then carefully closed the door and climbed in next to her.
The ride to Bank’s ranch felt long, and Norah had to hold herself back from jumping out of the truck and heading right to the barn. Banks helped her out and then ran up the porch steps to open his door. Crash burst forth in a flurry of overwhelming excitement, completely ignoring Banks as he flew down the stairs and across the space between them, his master hot on his heels.
“Crash!”
Norah got right down on the dog’s level to receive his wiggly welcome kisses, laughing the whole time. By the time Banks got to the pair, she’d sat right down on the ground, wrapped her arms around Crash’s neck, and was receiving a full face wash.
The dog had clearly missed her as much as she’d missed him.
Banks just shook his head.
“You know they say you’re supposed to trust your dog’s instinct about people.”
“They do say that.” Norah laughed, then took the hand he offered to help her up off the ground. She popped to her feet and he tugged her straight to him, to tuck her under his arm as they turned toward the barn.
Stepping into the barn and hearing the nickers of hungry horses felt just like coming home. She felt a flutter of excitement and had to stop herself from running down the aisle to Dixie and Sailor’s stall. Banks glanced down at her with a grin that said he knew exactly what she was thinking.
“I know you just came back here for this horse,” he said, laughing. “Go on.”
He released her and her stride quickened.
“Hey sweet thing.”
Sailor noticed her right away, letting out a high-pitched nicker. Norah smiled so wide her face hurt as he slid the door open and slipped into the stall. She heard Banks go about morning feed while she sidled up to Sailor.
“Oh hi, lovely,” she said, stroking the filly’s soft cheek. She scratched her chest and shoulder and down her back and Sailor turned into her, lifted her muzzle to touch Norah’s cheek.
Behind her, Norah heard Banks chuckle.
“Not gonna lie, that filly is not nearly as sweet with me as she is with you,” he said.
“She loves me,” Norah said, kissing the filly’s whiskered muzzle. “And I love her.”
“She does. And that’s why I was thinking it wouldn’t be fair to separate the two of you again.”
Norah glanced over her shoulder at him, a brow raised.
“You mean…?”
He nodded.
“That’s your horse.”
“Banks, I don’t even know how to ride.”
He laughed and let himself into the stall. He slid in behind her and wound his arms around her waist.
“You’ll learn. We have lots of time.”
She believed it.
—EPILOGUE—
Nan’s smile could have split her face when Banks turned up in her hospital room with Norah in tow the next morning. She stretched her arms out to the couple and then brought Norah closer, touching her face, her eyes dancing with mischievous energy.
“I knew I’d see you again soon. And look how much this child has grown,” she said, touching Norah’s bump lightly.
Norah bloomed under Nan’s attention, a broad smile splitting her face.
“You know I couldn’t stay away.”
“You should have brought my car.”
On the drive in, Norah had revealed that she hadn’t felt welcome to visit Nan, and it had just about broken Banks’ heart. Of course she was welcome, but he understood why she might have felt that way, and he regretted being the barrier to what both Nan and Norah wanted. He might be a long time making up for a mistake this big—to Norah and Nan.
Banks pushed the chair he’d spent most of his time in up next to the bed so Norah could sit down and Nan took her hand.
“When are they going to let you out of here?” Norah asked. “The apartment feels lonesome without hearing you moving around upstairs.”
“Someday,” Nan said, exaggerating wistfulness. “I thought today but Dr. Fields keeps telling me I have to rest. Says he knows I won’t get any rest at home. Little does he know, I did social rounds this morning.”
Banks chuckled. “I bet you did.”
“Next you’ll be asking for a kitchenette and to stay on longer so you can feed all these people, too,” Norah chimed in. Watching Nan and Norah interact in this setting was all the proof Banks needed that Norah was exactly where she belonged, and he’d do his best to make sure she stayed there.
Banks was so relaxed into the moment, watching Norah and Nan interact, he almost missed the knock on the room door. It was unusual for any of the doctors or nurses to knock—they usually just poked their head in and said hello.
“Come in,” Nan said.
Carter stuck his head in the door first, hat in his hands, and then his body followed. “Sorry to disturb you folks. I was at Hinkley’s when this woman asked me where to find you, Nan. She said it was important.”
A tall brunette with a round face followed Carter into the room. She wore jeans and a t-shirt with her hair tied up at the nape of her neck. She looked honest and no-nonsense. She took stock of those around her, passing an easy nod to Banks, before focusing on Nan in the hospital bed. His grandmother’s face lit up. Banks had no idea who she was, but it was clearly someone that Nan knew.
Something wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t put a finger on it.
“You made it,” Nan said.
Norah pushed her chair aside to make room for the newcomer to approach the bed.
“Come closer, let me get a good look at you,” Nan said, pulling herself up to a straighter sitting position. Banks glanced at Carter, standing near the door looking like he’d seen a ghost. Every spidey sense Banks had was tingling. He’d never seen her before, he was sure of it, but she looked so strangely familiar he could have sworn he knew her.
Banks and Norah waited in silence while the two women greeted one another.
Finally, Banks intercepted.
“Welcome to Three Rivers, it’s good to meet you. I’m the sheriff, Banks Montgomery.”
The woman took him in with a bemused expression and took his offered hand, giving it a firm shake.
“Callie Montgomery.”
Banks’ brow shot up. He glanced at Nan. All the family he had was here in Three Rivers, to his knowledge. Nan was smiling so h
ard she might have broken her face wide open.
“I had hoped Nate would be here for this, but it’s just as well, maybe.”
“Nan, what are you talking about?” Banks insisted.
“Banks, this is your sister.”
Sign up for my newsletter for more Hearts of Three Rivers.
Want more personal interaction, sneak peeks, exclusive content and the ability to influence future stories? Check out my reader group Three Rivers Ranch Hands.
If you enjoyed this installment of the Hearts of Three Rivers series, please consider leaving a review where books are sold.
—ABOUT AMITY—
I live in New Brunswick, Canada, on a multi-generational hobby farm with my parents, my husband, and my young son, as well as a flock of sheep, a herd of goats, too many herding dogs, several barn cats, and my three horses.
I've loved telling stories my whole life and could even be found telling them into a tape recorder in my grandmother's basement before I could write them. They always included kissing!
I strive to write real, sincere characters that exemplify the small-town sense of community and family I grew up in.
I am deeply inspired by the magic of Peter S. Beagle's writings (The Last Unicorn changed my life) and had the privilege of meeting him in May 2014. He was impossibly charming and delightful and left a lasting impression on me.
I love critters, cowboys, and coffee (the order of which depends on the day you ask me), and I still believe in unicorns. I hope you enjoy my books!
You can visit my site @ amitylassiter.com.
xoxo,
Amity
#
—ACKNOWLEDGMENTS—
As always, Mr. Lassiter is my biggest cheerleader and deserves recognition for all of the hours he spends trapped in the car listening to my story and career plans.
My editor, Keriann McKenna, gave me an extra dose of support for this book, and multiple emails, multiple passes and at least 3 hours on the phone later, I think we’ve produced a book to be proud of.
Lawful Heart Page 27